Couple avoid jail after road rampage with baby on board

A COUPLE who sped through Warwick streets last year with their baby on board and collided with two separate motorists, won't be jailed.

Ashley Groizard, 28, and Michael Holman, 32, caused havoc and terrorised motorists by tailgating, speeding, driving on the wrong side of the road and colliding with motorists.

They came to a stop when they collided with a motorist at the corner of Bracker Rd and Dragon Sts in their road rampage in October.

After the crash, Holman threatened the crash victim with a plastic cricket bat before threatening to assault police when they arrived.

After the incident, one victim told the Daily News she had feared for her safety after the couple's car rammed into her vehicle.

The victim said she was making her way home from the gym when startled by incessant honking and "aggressive" tailgating.

She said before she knew it, the vehicle rear-ended her, sending her into a tailspin.

"I was scared but at the same time I was just glad I was OK," she said.

Groizard and Holman each received suspended jail sentences yesterday for the trouble they caused.

Groizard - who was the driver of the vehicle - was sentenced to 12 months' jail suspended for two years, while Holman was sentenced to three months' jail, suspended for 12 months.

The couple, from Aberdare in New South Wales, had previously been in a relationship for eight years.

The court heard Groizard was suffering from paranoid schizophrenia, among other issues, after the birth of the couple's child in August last year.

Ms Gordon said Groizard had also taken methamphetamines before the crash, but said a medical professional had determined that the amount in her system at the time would not have contributed to her actions.

Holman was also suffering from mental health issues at the time, Ms Gordon submitted.

She said the couple had each spent time behind bars before being bailed and both undertook rehabilitation once released.

Groizard spent 98 days in custody following the incident, while Holman spent 66 days, which Magistrate Bevan Manthey said he had considered.

"They have co-operated with the process, including entering into an early plea of guilty," Mr Manthey said.

"The court has got to take that into account.

"Both parties were suffering from mental health issues at the time, and Mr Holman had no previous history. Ms Groizard does have some history but they are unrelated incidents.

"While the court denounces the conduct, both defendants have made substantial and significant changes while on bail and both spent significant amounts of time in custody prior to the sentencing."

Mr Manthey said he also took the couple's behaviour since the incident into account.

"They haven't committed any further offences since they were released from custody," he said.

"I don't think it's appropriate they serve any further actual time."

Groizard was also fined $6000, which she does not have to pay because she spent more than 50 days in custody, and was disqualified from driving for two years.

Mr Manthey warned the duo they would serve more jail time if they were caught re-offending.